German plan to ban 'flat-rate' offers in brothels

AP , Associated Press

Dec. 2, 20139:37 AM ET

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's biggest political parties have agreed to ban so-called flat-rate sex offered by some brothels in the country.

The move is part of a clampdown on Germany's booming prostitution industry that critics say has gotten out of hand since a 2002 law legalized sex work. They view as exploitative the special offers in some brothels where men can have unlimited sex for 100 euros ($136).

Anja Strieder, spokeswoman for the center-left Social Democrats, confirmed a report Monday by Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that a ban was agreed during coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Union bloc.

She said better protection for victims of enforced prostitution and stricter rules for brothel operators will also be included in a bill that could be introduced once the government is formally appointed.